Range-finder.



l. G. HANKS. DECD.

E. P. snows. ADMINISTRATMX.

RANGE FINDER.

- APPLICATION FILED MAR. 12, I911. 1,286,609. Patented Dec. 3, 1918.

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l. G. HANKS. DEC'D.

E. P. BROWN. ADMINISTRATRIX.

RANGE rmosn. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 12', 19H.

Patented Dec. 3, 1918.

1. e. HANKS. 0mm,

5. F. BROWN. ADMIMSTRATRIX. RANGE FINDER. v APPLlC-ATlON FILED MAR. l2. 19H. I 7 1,286,609. Patented Dec. 3, 1918.

- 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

' J. G. HANKS. DECD.

:. P. snow. ADMINISTRATRXX.

RANGE FINDER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 12. Man.

Patentefi Dec. 3, 1918.

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7, 1 farm/ flz/ 51 0150141 TE: sTaTEs PATENT JOHN" G. 'HAnKs, EEcEAsEn, BY ELIZA r. BROWN, ADMINISTRATRIX, on OAKLAND,

- CALIFORNIA.

RANGE-FINDER.

Specification of Letters Iatent.

Application filed March 12, 1917. Serial No. 154,397.

GQHANKS, of which the following is a-specification.

This invention relatesto an improvement in so-called range-finders, that is to say instruments for measuring and determining distances by parallex on land or at sea from a fixed point by the intersection of visual lines, also with other functions, such as determining in a horizontal plane the relative movement of distant objects, it being an improvement on an application filed in the U S. Patent. Oflice by John Gr. 'Hanks, deceased, December 17, 1907, Serial No. 106.915.

This present invention relates more particularly to improvements wherein the base of the truss carrying the range-finding mechanism operates in conjunction with rotating means supported on the base of a tripod; and thisinvention consists in improved means for rotating the mechanism in a horizontal plane. It consists further 1n means for disengaging the rotatlng mechanlsm from the range-findlng mechanism,

and means for securing the rotating mechanism against turning upon the base.

In the accompanying; drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of thedevice with the lower portion of the legs of the tripod partly broken away;

Fig.2 is a plan view of Fig. 1, disclosing the range-finder focused on a distant object; r c

Fig. 3, is a view similar to Fig. 2 after the object has moved and the range-finding mechanismhas been partiallyrotated, lthe rear mechanism havingremained stationary;

I Fig. 4 is a plan view .of'the rotating mech- -anism on a large scale (lisclosing'the. rotating means secured .to-the base-plate of the range-finding mechanism; 0

:Fig i ar lt sid ele atmea F sts;

Patented Dee. 3, 1918.

' Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view on line 6-6 of Fig. 4. v

The numeral 1 designates a base-plate mounted upon a tripod 2. An annular flange ring 4 is rotatablv' mounted upon the base plate 1, and is retained in means of suitable clamps 5.

A second annular flange 3 is rigidly mounted on the base-plate 1 by means of screws or like devices. I may also provide a hardened steel race-way 3'. 3., 3 are rigidly united and mounted on plate 1 to form a support for the top plate 6 which is rotatably mounted upon the annular flange 3. and is provided with are'cess position by L The parts 6 in which the upper portion of the ring 3 is fitted. This top plate 6 is further provided with a worm gear 7, which is adapted tobeengaged by a Worm 8 secured to a shaft 9 rotatably mounted in v suitable bearings 10 and 11. The outer end of the shaft 9'. is provided with a suitable disk 12 to which is secured a suitable handle 14 by means of which the said disk 12 and shaft 9 may be rotated.

An extension bearing 15 is secured to the Y annular flange 4 for the purpose of further supporting the outer end of the shaft 9.

The bearing 11. atthe inner end of the shaft 9 is provided with an extension 16 which is slidably mounted within a sleeve 17 secured to a suitable bracket 18, which is in turn secured to the annular flange 4.

The extension 16 of the bearing 11 is notched as at 20, said notch being engaged by means of a suitable thumb-screw 21. By loosening screw 21 and screwing adjusting nut the wormwill be drawn out of mesh. When the end of the thumb-screw 21 engages the notch 20, the bearing 11 will retain the worm 8 in engagement with the worm-gear 7. A thumb-nut 25 is provided on the inner end ofthe shaft 9 so that the said shaft 9 may be rotated from that end, if desired.

The operation is as follows The object is sighted by means of the right-hand telescope A, and the telescope. B-

is turned by meansof the handle C and the worm 1)., which. engages the. sector E secure'd to. the pivot F of the telescope B.

. In. order to, retain the moving image with- L l in the approximate center of the telescopes A and B, which have been focused thereon, the truss-bar G, which forms a supporting frame for the said telescopes A and B. and

which is rigidly secured to the top plate 6, the handle 14 ofrthe disk 12, is rotated, which causes the shaft 9 to rotate the worm 8 and thereby rotate the worm-gear 7 secured to the top plate 6.

combination of a base-plate, an annular flange rotatably supported thereon and capable of being secured thereto, a second an- The annular flange 4 may, at any time 'nular flange mounted on said base-plate, a

be retained against movement by means of the thumb screw 30, which is connected thereto and adapted to engage the base plate 1. By loosening the said screw 30, the entire structure above the base 1 may be rotated, except for thestationary portions 3, 3 and 3". Y

If it is desired to turn the rotating mechanism, by loosening the screw and then disengaging the thumb-nut 21 from the notch 20 0f the extension'lfl, the said extension 16 may be moved outward in the sleeve 17, within-which it is slidably mounted, and therebydisengage the worm 8 from the worm gear 7 ,when the rotating mechanism can beeasily rotated on the base-plate 1 without rotating the range-finding mechanism. I

- This machine can be operated by one person standing in one place, by loosemng screw 21, thus disengaging worm and worm gear, and swinging truss bar into any position desired. By then loosening adjusting screw and putting worm in mesh and tightening screw 21, the movement of the truss fbar can be obtained by turning disk 12,

provided screw 30 is tightened.

I claim: 1 v i 1. Ina distance-measuring instrument, the combination of a base-plate, an annular flange rotatably supported thereon and ca pable of being secured thereto, a second annular flange mounted on said base-plate, a top-plate rotatably mounted upon said second annular flange, a truss-bar carried by the top-plate, and telescopes carried at opposite ends'of the truss-bar.

2. In a distance-measuring instrument, the combination of a base-plate, an annular flange rotatably supported thereon and capable of being secured thereto, a second annular flange mounted on said base-plate, a

- top-plate rotatably mounted upon said secend annular flange, a truss-bar carried by the top-plate,the top-plate having a wormgear, and a worm'carried by the annular flange for engaging and turning said worm gear. j

i 3. In a dlstance measurmg instrument, the combination of a base-plate, an annular flange rotatably supported thereon and ca- .pable of being secured thereto, a second annula'r flange mounted on said base plate, a top-plate rotatably mounted upon said second annular flange, a truss-bar carried by J gear, a worm carried by the annular flange for engaging and turning said worm-gear, and an adjustable bearing through which the worm turns for holding the latter in or out 7 of engagement. with the worm-gear.

5. In a distance-measuring instrument 7 the combination of a base-plate,'an annularflange rotatably supported thereon and capableof being securedthereto, a second'am nular flange mounted on said base-plate, a

top-plate rotatably mounted upon said second annular flange, atruss-bar carried by the top-plate, the top-plate having a worm -7 gear, a worm carried by the annular flange for engaging and'turning said'worm-gear,

an adjustable bearing throughwhich the worm turns for holding the latter in or out.

of engagement withthe worm-gear consisting of a slldable extension having a bearing at one end, through which the Wormturns,

provided'with a notch, asleeve in which the 7' extension is supported, and a thumb-nut which turns-in the sleeve'in position toengage the notch to hold the-extensionin place intermeshed. I

'pable of being secured thereto, a seoondannular flange mounted on said'base-plate, a top-plate rotatably mounted upon said second annular flange, a truss-bar carried by in the sleeve with the worm and worm-gear the top-plate,telesoopes carried by the trussbar, the top-plate having a Worm gear, an

worm carried by the annular flange for-engaging-and turnlng said worm-gear, and means earned by the annular flange for holdingthe worm and worm-gear in or out 7 of mesh with each other.

7. In a, distance-measuringinstrument, the

combination of a base-plate, an annular nularffiange mounted on said base-plate, a-

top-plate 'rotatably mounted 'upon'said second annular flange, a truss-bar carried by means carried by the: annular flange for flange rotatably supportedthereon andcapable of being secured thereto, a second an:

holding the worm and worm-gear in or out of mesh with each other, and means for securing the annular flange to the base-plate.

8. In a distance-measuring instrument,

* the combination of a base-p1ate, a supporting ring, a race-Way, an annular flange ring, so connected together as to form a rigid support, a truss-bar rotatably supported thereon, and means supported on the base-plate for 10 turning the truss-bar.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature, as administratrix of the estate of J OHN G. HANKS, deceased, in the presence of two E. LoRENsEN, J. M. C. MURBHEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addreleing the commissioner o! intents,

Washington, D. 0. 

